Standard Business Card Size and Dimensions Guide

A standard US business card is 3.5 x 2 inches, which is 8.9 x 5.1 cm or 89 x 51 mm (1050 x 600 pixels at 300 DPI). In the UK and most of Europe, the standard is 8.5 x 5.5 cm (85 x 55 mm). Add a 1/8 inch (3 mm) bleed on each side if your design runs to the edge. Other regions are covered below.

Remembering the exact dimensions, margins and bleed every time you start a new card is a hassle. This guide covers the standard business card sizes around the world, how to set up your file for print, and a free template that has it all built in.

If you want to skip ahead and start designing:

Download Brandly’s standard business card size templates

What is the standard business card size?

There is no single worldwide standard business card size. Each region has its own preferred size, usually called “standard”, though other sizes are used everywhere.

In the United States and Canada, the standard business card size is 3.5 x 2 inches (89 x 51 mm). That is the final, trimmed size. If your design runs to the edge, set up your file at 3.75 x 2.25 inches to include a 1/8 inch bleed on every side, which is trimmed off after printing. How bleed works is explained below.

Vertical cards use the same size turned on its side: 2 x 3.5 inches (5.1 x 8.9 cm). For layout ideas, see these vertical business card designs.

Standard business card sizes by region

In Japan, the 91 x 55 mm card is called a meishi, and how you hand it over matters as much as what’s printed on it: offer it with both hands, text facing the recipient.

If you work with clients in several countries, a card that fits local wallets and holders is more likely to be kept. Consider printing region-specific cards, or stick with the size your main audience expects.

Other business card shapes

You may also see square (2.5 x 2.5 in), slim (3.5 x 1.5 in), folded and die-cut cards. They can stand out, but they cost more to print, don’t fit every wallet or card holder, and are harder to design well. For a card people will keep and use, a standard size is the safer choice.

At Brandly, we print the two most widely used standard sizes:

• US standard: 3.5 x 2 in (89 x 51 mm), horizontal or vertical
• International standard: 85 x 55 mm (3.35 x 2.17 in), horizontal or vertical

Both are available with square corners or 1/4 in rounded corners on most papers.

How to choose the right business card size

For most people, the standard size for your region is the right choice. It fits every wallet, card holder and badge sleeve, it’s the cheapest to print, and nobody has to think twice about it. That leaves three decisions:

• Size: where do most of your contacts live? Use 3.5 x 2 in for the US and Canada, or 85 x 55 mm for the UK, Europe and most other countries. If your team works in several regions, consider printing both.
• Orientation: horizontal or vertical? Horizontal suits most logos and reads naturally. Vertical is the same size turned on its side, and it stands out in a stack of horizontal cards. See these vertical business card designs for ideas.
• Corners: square or rounded? Square corners look classic and crisp. Rounded corners (1/4 in radius) feel softer and more modern, and they don’t dog-ear in a wallet.

Whatever size you choose, list what has to go on the card first: logo, name and title, contact details, a QR code, and any legal text your industry requires. A QR code that saves your contact details can replace a crowded block of contact info.

If it won’t fit comfortably on a standard card, cut the text before you change the size.

What is the size of a business card in pixels?

It depends on the resolution. For print, use at least 300 DPI (dots per inch) at the final size. 72 DPI is for screens only and will print blurry. Here are the pixel sizes for the two most common card sizes:

We recommend designing in a vector tool such as Adobe Illustrator or InDesign, where text and logos stay sharp at any size. If you are working in a pixel-based program like Photoshop, set the document up in inches or millimeters at 300 DPI and let the software work out the pixels.

Watch: Business Card Size Explained (YouTube)

How to set up a business card file for print

Printing and trimming are never perfectly precise, so every print file has three zones: the bleed (artwork that gets cut off), the trim line (the finished size) and the safe area (where text belongs). Get these right and your card prints exactly as designed, so you can focus on color, layout and typography.

5 tips for print perfection

1. Save as PDF. PDF keeps your layout, fonts and colors intact.
2. Use the right size. 3.5 x 2 in for US cards, plus a 1/8 in bleed on each side if your design runs to the edge.
3. Keep text live. Leave editable text as live text rather than converting it to outlines.
4. Remove crop marks. We add our own when we print.
5. Use CMYK color. Printers print in CMYK, so set up your file in CMYK mode for the most accurate colors.

Business card formats and corners

At Brandly, we print US standard (3.5 x 2 in) and international (85 x 55 mm) business cards, horizontal or vertical. Choose square corners for a classic look or rounded corners (1/4 in radius) for a modern one.

Safe zone (safety margin)

Trimming can shift slightly, so keep important text and logos at least 1/8 inch (about 3 mm) inside the trim edge. On a US card, that leaves a safe area of 3.25 x 1.75 inches. On a UK or European card, it is 79 x 49 mm. A standard business card template has these guides marked for you.

Understanding the bleed of a business card

The bleed is extra artwork printed beyond the trim edge, so no thin white lines appear if the cut is slightly off. If your card has a background color or images that reach the edge, extend them past the trim by 1/8 inch (3 mm) on each side:

Keep it readable

A business card is small, so readability matters more than on almost anything else you print:

• Use a clear font at a comfortable size. Avoid very thin or condensed type for contact details.
• Use strong contrast. Dark text on a light background is easiest to read; low-contrast color pairs look stylish on screen and disappear in print.
• Leave space. Don’t shrink text to squeeze more in. If it doesn’t fit, cut it or move it to the back of the card.

Use a template instead of starting from scratch

A template takes the guesswork out of all of the above. Brandly’s template has the trim, bleed and safe area already marked, so you can drop in your design and know it will print correctly. Even experienced designers start from one to save time.

The template is a PDF that opens in most design software, including Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign.

Download Brandly’s standard business card size templates

The takeaway

A US business card is 3.5 x 2 inches (89 x 51 mm); in the UK and Europe, it is 85 x 55 mm. Add a 1/8 inch (3 mm) bleed, keep important content inside the safe area, and work at 300 DPI or more. Start from a template and you won’t have to remember any of it.

Before you send your card to print, see Brandly’s artwork guidelines for preparing print-ready files, and our guide on how to choose the right business card paper type. For design inspiration, browse these creative business card ideas.

Ordering standard-size cards for a whole team? A business card portal keeps everyone on the same template, so each person fills in their own details and every card prints at the right size. See how to order business cards online for your team for the full workflow.